Matthews on Boehner: ‘You Can See This Man’s Greatness’

MSNBC’s Chris Matthews conducted a hard-hitting interview tonight with House Majority Leader John Boehner (R-OH). The most aggressive line of questioning Boehner faced was over the hotly-debated question, “Is Hillary Clinton a socialist?” which Matthews asked three times. The segment concluded with Matthews declaring, “You can see this man’s greatness.”

In an interview in today’s Washington post, Matthews provide another subtle hint about his political leanings. Matthews said “I do make that old mistake of calling [Anderson Cooper] Cooper Anderson. Where I grew up you had a first name and last name and now you’ve got all these guys who have two last names…I’m more in the tradition of Bill O’Reilly. Sean Hannity. Chris Matthews…”

Full transcript below:

MATTHEWS: Is she a socialist?

BOEHNER: Uh, no. I’ve worked with her on a number of issues —

MATTHEWS: Well, on the issue of health care, is she a socialist?

BOEHNER: She would be to the left of most people I know.

MATTHEWS: But not a socialist?

BOEHNER: I wouldn’t go that far.

MATTHEWS: You wouldn’t go that far? What stops you?

BOEHNER: I don’t like labeling of people.

MATTHEWS: You call her a liberal. You called it Hillarycare.

BOEHNER: I don’t want to call her a socialist.

MATTHEWS: Could she carry Ohio in the general?

BOEHNER: I don’t think so.

MATTHEWS: Who could beat her?

BOEHNER: Anybody.

MATTHEWS: Anybody. Strong words. We’ll be right back with House Majority Leader John Boehner. You can see this man’s greatness.